Play

An assignment for my Professional Development class this week is to play at least once a day. We actually have to keep track of it, note how we feel beforehand, during and afterwards. I had totally forgotten about the assignment until this evening when Dave and I stopped at Borders. As soon as I remembered, I went to the children's book section, something I don't think I've ever done, and read Madonna's book, The English Roses. I also looked around a little, and almost bought this refrigerator magnet making kit. Dave met me there eventually, we looked at the stuffed animals, found a bizarre book called Amelia and Eleanor Take a Ride (Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt! Oh man, the illustrations are hilarious!), and decided that the Cat in the Hat is actually a tuxedo cat! I didn't end up buying anything, and to be honest I don't think I gave the exercise enough time. However, I did have fun while I was there and I think next time I will buy something. I just didn't see anything that really struck me.

I tried this whole play thing a couple of years ago when I was reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I was supposed to take myself on an artist's date once a week for several months for the purpose of fulfilling the yearnings of my inner child or something. It never worked. I could never get myself motivated to go on the dates. To me having a structured outing like that is too organized for my "inner child" who, I imagine would prefer to be spontaneous. I envision running in a sprinkler with my clothes on, eating Play-Doh, making mud stews and actually tasting them, cutting my own hair, painting a dog's toe nails, dressing up in men's clothing, and making fun of teachers.

I do many of the things I did as a child. I still paint. I still pet cats. I still like aquariums, books, movies, being tickled, teased, going for car rides, watching trains, eating ice cream, laughing till my sides hurt, and not doing the dishes! My job lets me play, and so does school. I don't make a lot of money, but I feel good about the fact that I can work full time as most adults do, get health insurance, go to school, AND be in a place where if you're not playing with or stroking the cats while you're working there is definitely something wrong with you!

So I don't know how I'm going to play tomorrow, but I like not having any rules as far as how I go about doing this. Julia said I had to do Artist Dates alone. Well, I prefer including people or cats if possible, and if I am by myself I may just stay at home and play. Why should I have to go somewhere?

By the way, I liked Madonna's book. I would recommend it for any little girl, but I don't think she really drives the lesson home as well as she could have. It's still worth reading, with cute illustrations, and Madonna's own bitchiness showing through every now and then.